Kolkata: The Red Road was shut completely from Tuesday to proceed with the preparations for International Day of Yoga event that PM Narendra Modi is likely to attend.
The shutdown failed to cripple traffic movement around Esplanade though commute time increased, especially for those travelling in buses. "Unlike on Monday, we tried to ensure traffic flow on both flanks of Dufferin Road. However, all buses moving towards Esplanade and Dalhousie were rerouted through Outram Road-Chowringhee Road-Mayo Road. Some buses that came from Behala via Lovers Lane were diverted via Kidderpore Road and Strand Road," said a cop.
In addition, smaller vehicles headed to Esplanade were diverted via Outram Road instead of Dufferin Road. The police also ensured that the tail on Mayo Road remained within control. There were reports of some tail up on the JL Nehru Road that reached the Park Street flyover. Similarly, traffic on SN Banerjee moved much slower than usual. Cops blamed the three rallies that took place on SN Banerjee Road for the commotion.
According to a notice, Red Road has been completely closed to all vehicular movement starting from 10pm on June 14, and will remain strictly out of bounds until the conclusion of the main programme on Sunday. Mayo Road will remain shut from 2am on June 21 to all traffic, barring vehicles carrying special stickers officially issued for the programme.
A security cordon will also completely shut down major arterial channels around Maidan area, including Hospital Road, Lovers Lane, Casuarina Avenue, Queensway, Dufferin Road, Outram Road, Plassey Gate Road, Kingsway, Esplanade Ramp, the south-bound stretch of RR Avenue from Esplanade Row East, and Kidderpore Road from Ghora Pass to J&N Island (except bridge-bound and AJC Ramp vehicles).